/ 3 November 2006

Light aircraft crashes into home near Durban

The pilot of a light aircraft was killed when his plane crashed into a house north of Durban on Friday afternoon.

Witnesses at Sgodiphola, 40km north of Tongaat on the R614 road to Greytown, said the plane was already in flames before it hit the house in foggy weather. It is believed that the aircraft took off from Virginia airport in Durban.

The house and the plane went up in flames on impact, killing the pilot instantly. Emergency services raced to the scene from as far afield as Durban, 70km away.

There was initial confusion about the location of the crash, with numerous emergency vehicles racing towards Ndwedwe. The police air wing and satellite navigation systems were used to locate the crash scene.

All that was left of the plane was its tail, burnt-out engine and the tip of a wing. It was not immediately known what type of aircraft it was.

The identity of the pilot has not been released yet, and occupants of the house were not home.

Civil Aviation Authority officials are expected to visit the crash scene on Saturday. — Sapa